Hello all,
I am hoping that someone can answer a few basic questions about public health insurance in Belgium. I currently live in the US and work for a multinational company with offices in Brussels. Recently, the possibility has been raised that I might be transferred there. The discussions are at a very early stage, and the transfer itself is still far from certain; however, if it occurs, it will be a permanent transfer rather than an "expat" temporary relocation. Thus, I would be on a local contract, paying local taxes and social security, and using the Belgian public healthcare system.
My main question involves my wife, who has a health condition which is considered "pre-existing" for the purposes of most private insurance. Does the Belgian public health insurance cover such pre-existing conditions? Naturally, before we commit to relocating we must make sure that she will have access to health care. Does anyone have any links to documentation to confirm this one way or the other? My research has turned up plenty of private insurances that deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, but I can't find a concrete answer regarding the public insurance.
I also have a few other general questions:
1. Would my wife would be covered under the public insurance through my employment contract/payment of social security, even if she doesn't work?
2. Is it true that under the public insurance plan you can choose any doctor? Do all doctors participate?
3. Is it difficult to obtain brand-name prescription medicine under the public insurance plan? We are generally fine with generics, but there is one medication my wife takes where she didn't respond to the generic forumulation, so her doctor in the US specifies the brand name when writing a prescription.
If it makes any difference, my wife is an EU citizen (I am a US citizen).
Thank you so much for any insight anyone can offer.
S